Kartik 2017

The Kartik month starts on the 6th of October 2017 and runs for four weeks till 3rd of November 2017.

During this time pilgrims come from far and wide to offer a lamp to Mother Yasoda and Lord Krishna. The importance of this month is described extensively in the scriptures, especially in Srila Rupa Goswami’s Mathura Mahatmya.

Every day, devotees come to the Temple and offer a candle or ghee lamp to Lord Damodara. The Damodarastakam, a series of eight beautiful verses by the great sage Satyavrata Muni is sung daily in the morning and evening.

The Puranas (Vedic histories) extol the month of Kartik as the topmost in the calendar. Lord Krishna’s mercy is very easily accessible in this month and to demonstrate their sincerity devotees accept different austerities such as fasting, cutting down on non-essential activities and offering charity. Worship of Tulsi and serving Lord Krishna’s cows is especially glorified.

The month of Kartik begins on 6th October. Those who make a Kartik-vrata (vow) should start on the 5th of October. The vrata is concluded on the full moon (Purnima) on 3rd November. In ISKCON temples around the world it is customary to sing Damodara-Astakam and to offer candles to Lord Krishna during this period.